Director Maris Jones of production company Adolescent teamed with Hill Holliday, Wax editor Christopher Huth and Sonic Union mixer David Papa to literally force the hands of teens into making questionable decisions in the impactful new :30 PSA “Who Controls You” for Above the Influence, a program of the non-profit Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. The spot features teenagers in a variety of potentially precarious situations, with a hand reaching in from off-screen to compel them to go against their own better judgment and influence their decisions.
A girl has her sandwich pushed away from her as she reads a fashion magazine emblazoned with underweight bikini-clad models; another girl plucks a bottle of prescription medication from the bathroom cabinet while a friend looks on eagerly; two smitten teenage boys are pushed to break affection and are scurried to different sides of the couch; and a girl is driven to become the ringleader of her group of cackling friends to bully a nearby loner.
In the final vignette, a boy continues to reject a red cup continuously pushed his way, deliberately placing it out of his eyesight, followed by the voiceover, “If you’re not in control, then who is?”
AFI Alumni Show Strong Spirit
The American Film Institute announced that the following AFI Conservatory alumni have been nominated for four 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards: Anomalisa co-director/producer Duke Johnson (AFI Class of 2006) for Best Feature and Best Director; Spotlight producer Steve Golin (AFI Class of 1981) for Best Feature; and Advantageous director/writer Jennifer Phang (AFI Class of 1999) for the John Cassavetes Award. Altogether, 17 Conservatory alumni are credited across the feature films nominated for Independent Spirit Awards this year. Winners will be announced on February 27, 2016.
People On The Move
San Francisco-based creative agency Eleven, Inc. has hired Aaron Richard as director of innovation, a new position at the shop, and TJ Tshionyi as EP of digital. Richard will focus on bringing new communication channels, technologies and ideas to Eleven and will report to Gary Stein, Eleven’s group director of marketplace insights. Tshionyi will lead production initiatives across a range of accounts and report to Anastacia Maggioncalda, head of integrated production. Prior to joining Eleven, Richard was a sr. innovation strategist at Heat, where he spent several years working on strategic technology projects for Electronic Arts, AOL, Anheuser-Busch, Bank of the West, Levi’s, Pure Storage and Dolby. Tshionyi spent time at McCann Erickson San Francisco working on Microsoft, and had a lengthy tenure at AKQA San Francisco where he worked on clients spanning Nike, Old Navy, Gap, Red Bull and Jordan Brand….Derek Anderson has joined Publicis Seattle as associate creative director. Anderson was most recently at Taxi NY. He has also spent time at Whybin/TBWA/Dan Sydney and Leo Burnett Sydney. Anderson will join newly hired creative directors James McKenna and Matthew Trego on the T-Mobile business. Also coming aboard Publicis Seattle is sr. broadcast producer Tim Biggins who had been freelance producing on brands such as Budweiser, Discover, American Express, Pepsi and Skittles. In his new role, Biggins will work mostly on T-Mobile’s live action production….
Sinners and Saints Adds Apple Pie To Its Branded Menu
Bicoastal Sinners and Saints--the multidisciplinary studio overseen by managing director/executive producer Heather Heller, and partners/EPs Yann Henric and Thomas Carroll--has added Apple Pie Tabletop to its roster for branded content. Known for its food and beverage content creation, Apple Pie comprises the husband-and-wife team of director/DP Gene Dubin and director/art director Alisa Volodina. In addition to representation, the move expands Apple Pie’s production capabilities through the combination of its centrally located full-service studio in New York and a newly established mobile studio in Los Angeles. Apple Pie recently teamed with Sinners and Saints on a Wienerschnitzel project created by Innocean.
“We believe that our dual studio strategy positions us uniquely in the competitive landscape of food and beverage storytelling,” said Heller. “By blending the artistry of the New York studio with the flexibility of our Los Angeles location, we can tailor our productions to meet the unique demands of each project, regardless of geography.”
“Working with Sinners and Saints in the demanding field of tabletop was an absolute pleasure,” shared Apple Pie Tabletop in a joint statement. “Warm welcome, unwavering support and dedication--everything a director can ask for. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. We will not miss an opportunity to collaborate with them again.”
“The first thing you notice is that Apple Pie has beautiful work,” Heller observed. “Having worked with them, I can say that Gene and Alisa are extremely meticulous and detail-oriented; their combination of talent and agility appeals to agencies and clients.” Also appealing to Heller is Apple Pie Tabletop’s brisk international... Read More